Genie,

I think I agree with your hypothesis, but if you're covering your nails with nail hardener or clearcoats, your natural nail is not "breathing." Maybe take them off for a couple weeks now that you've had them on for a few months and see if your nails seem brittle or soft. If not, don't worry and just check them every now and then.

As short as you are keeping your nails, though, I don't think the waiting longer would put you in much danger of tearing the acrylic nail off. Those suckers go on pretty tight. But as short as you keep them... why go artificial?

Silk wraps are another way to strengthen nails without changing the fingernail sound. But they have many of the same drawbacks as acrylics and they don't lengthen, just thicken the nail.